Notes on the data: Aboriginal premature mortality by selected cause

Deaths from circulatory system diseases, Aboriginal persons aged 0 to 74 years, 2009 to 2013


Policy context:  Diseases of the circulatory system include all diseases and conditions that affect the heart and blood vessels, and include cardiovascular diseases. They represent a significant burden for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in terms of prevalence, hospitalisation, and mortality [1]. Coronary heart disease (or ischaemic heart disease), cerebrovascular disease (including stroke), hypertension (high blood pressure), and rheumatic heart disease (RHD) are of particular importance to Indigenous people [1].

Modifiable behavioural factors include tobacco use, physical inactivity, dietary behaviour, and excessive alcohol consumption [2]. Modifiable biomedical factors include hypertension, high blood cholesterol, overweight and obesity, and depression. Certain related health conditions, particularly diabetes and chronic kidney disease, can also increase the risk of developing these diseases [2]. Non-modifiable risk factors that can influence risk include, age, sex, family history, and ethnicity.


  2. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). Cardiovascular disease: Australian facts 2011. Canberra: AIHW; 2011.

Notes:  International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems 10th Revision (ICD-10) codes: I00-I99

Deaths data


Data quality




Numerator:  Aboriginal deaths from circulatory system diseases at ages 0 to 74 years


Denominator:  Aboriginal population aged 0 to 74 years


Detail of analysis:  Average annual indirectly age-standardised rate per 100,000 Aboriginal population (aged 0 to 74 years); and/or indirectly age-standardised ratio, based on the Australian standard



